Author: Festus Adeloye

Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of Naomi Silekunola, an estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, has made an emotional plea to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to save her daughter from what she described as unjust detention. Naomi was among three individuals facing charges at the Iyaganku Magistrate Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, following a tragic stampede at a Christmas funfair that claimed the lives of 35 children. Naomi in collaboration with a popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and chairman of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, spearheaded the charity programme. The court ordered the remand of the accused on charges, including…

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State announced the passing of his beloved mother, Hajiya Maryam Namadi Umar, on Wednesday. In a statement released by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Hamisu Gumel, it was confirmed that Hajiya Maryam Namadi Umar passed away in the early hours of today. Her passing comes as a profound shock, coinciding with the governor’s official trip to China, where he is engaging in efforts to foster economic ties and attract investments to Jigawa State. The governor’s absence during this deeply personal loss has cast doubt on his ability to attend the burial scheduled for today.…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement action against five airlines (two international and three domestic operators) for various violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations. The violations include the non-payment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and cancelled flights, amongst others. A spokesman for NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this to journalists at the corporate headquarters of the Authority in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that although airlines are not always responsible for flight disruptions, NCAA regulations stipulate actions that airlines must take during…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the sum of ₦100,000 for civil servants, public servants, and pensioners in the state. The approval was communicated in a statement that was signed and released by the States Head of Service, George Nwaeke, on Tuesday. Dr. Nwaeke said the approval, which was given on Monday, is to enable the workers and senior citizens have a fulfilled Christmas celebration. This is the second time within the administration of Fubara that civil servants in the state will be receiving Christmas bonus, to the tune of one hundred thousand naira, an amount which is above…

As Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, 2024, the wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the administration of her husband, President Bola Tinubu is committed to positive changes that will benefit every Nigerian. In her Christmas message on Tuesday, the President’s wife said some of the policy changes are already yielding positive results. She thanked all Nigerians for their support for the President’s administration in the last 18 months and pledged the government’s continuous support for all citizens. She urged Nigerians to look forward to the new year, 2025, with bright optimism.…

Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has regained freedom after meeting his bail conditions. The development was disclosed by politician and activist, Omoyele Sowore. He was arrested earlier in the month for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD. Farotimi, who was remanded in a correctional centre in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, arrived at the Magistrate Court premises around 9:45 am on Friday amid heavy security presence. Posting on X, Sowore said the embattled activist lawyer was no longer at the prison yards in Ekiti State.…

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, also known as KAI, on Monday night, carried out an extensive overnight operation aimed at improving security and maintaining order in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. The patrols, which covered key areas such as Idowu Martins, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Akin Adesola, Samuel Manuwa, Muri Okunola, Ajose Adeogun, Lugard Avenue, and Macdonald Road, yielded significant results. The operation highlights the ongoing efforts by LAGESC to ensure that Lagos remains a secure and orderly city for its inhabitants. A statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, after the operation, detailed…

A powerful blast on Tuesday ripped through an explosives plant in northwest Turkey killing 12 people and injuring three others, the local governor said. “According to preliminary information, 12 people died in the explosion” in the Karesi district of Balikesir, Ismail Ustaoglu told the private NTV broadcaster. Footage showed shards of glass and metal scattered outside the plant. The blast took place at 8:25 am (0525 GMT) at a section of the plant, the governor said, adding that that part of the building collapsed. Prosecutors have launched an investigation. AFP

Bill Clinton, the former US president who has faced a series of health issues over the years, was admitted to hospital Monday in Washington after developing a fever, his office said. “President Clinton was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center this afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever,” the 78-year-old’s deputy chief of staff Angel Urena said on social media platform X, adding Clinton “remains in good spirits.” Clinton was previously hospitalized for five nights in October 2021 due to a blood infection. In 2004, at age 58, he underwent a quadruple bypass operation after doctors found signs…

Kidnappers on Sunday night ambushed an Ado-Ekiti bound 18-passenger vehicle at Emure Ile, kidnapping all the passengers on board. The incident happened at the outskirts of Emure-Owo, as the bus was returning from Onitsha. According to a source at the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti Motor Terminal branch, the bandits kidnapped the driver, Sunday Emmanuel, alongside other passengers, demanding a ransom of N30 million each. The source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the kidnappers abandoned some children on the bus, whose cries attracted the attention of passersby in the early hours of Monday before it was reported to…